M'duk's Brown Draeth

Fiery Fingers Egg

One side of this egg is dark, dark black, almost blending in with the hatching sands, although its faint shine makes it stand out enough to be noticed. The arc of the shell is smooth and clean, with just one slight dip marring its surface, off-center. Just past that dip is a wash of color, yellows and oranges and reds that curl along the edge like fiery fingers reaching for something. The colors blur together and fade into the black, almost giving a sense of movement even as the egg sits still.

Egg Inspiration: Grease

The big car race in the movie Grease. Who can forget the car, Greased Lightning?

Hatching Pose: Movement is all around the Fiery Fingers Egg, making its distinctive markings come alive so vibrantly that they almost seem to be moving. The egg tumbles from its miniature dune on the sands, sliding forward, the flames rushing on. It reaches a point, stops suddenly, and then a crack appears. At first it seems as though the dragon inside is too spent to try again, but that's not the case as the egg shatters and an auburn-hued brown soon begins his crusade.

Crusading Sinewed Brown

Slender but hardly small, this brown’s weight is distributed with impressive precision over his compact frame. A muscled chest and sleek belly contribute to an athletic build, displaying strength without bulk. Long, sinuous wings the color of worn leather drape elegantly across his auburn body when furled, and when opened the broad sails gleam with highlights of copper along the trailing edges. A supple but slightly short tail and thin, sinewy limbs tell of potential for great agility and quick maneuverability in flight and on the ground. The ruddy hue of his hide extends clear to the base of curved neckridges; there a deep russet takes over, spilling dark along his lithe neck and pooling upon his aristocratic muzzle. Paler slashes, one on either side of that tenebrous face, make his long jaw seem narrow. Like his handsome head, his paws are dark and slender, pointed with gleaming black claws.

Final Size: 33.2

Inspiration: Draeth is based on Inigo Montoya from The Princess Bride. He was dedicated, loyal, and honorable enough to even help Westly (his then-opponent) climb the Cliffs of Insanity, even letting him rest before their duel. He is a loyal friend and a reliable partner, but the acts through which he displays that loyalty are rare; only by the depth of his dedication is the reach of his friendship made apparent. Inigo can also carry quite the grudge. He is driven by a strong sense of justice to do right where wrong has been done. That does not, of course, mean he’s above having a good time – nor is he above a good old-fashioned vendetta.

Name: Draeth - The name Draeth is inspired by the Dread Pirate Roberts, which Inigo becomes at the end of the movie. (Links of interest: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inigo_Montoya and http://forsaken-faith.org/inigo/)

Mindvoice: Rich in tone with soft undercurrents of foreign waters, Draeth’s voice is deep, yet not a thundering bass. It seems to roll around your mind sweetly, tickling areas with its subdued modulation. It speaks of balmy breezes and yet at the same time scents of comforting old hides mingle in. Usually his mindvoice is supremely mellow, its resonant qualities punctuated with vibrant colors. Often shapes are intermingled with sensations to get his points across with more clarity. When in his more sullen moods, his thoughts may be punctuated with more pointed shapes and feelings of rushing towards something, while in his happiest moments it's filled with deep woodsy colors and bright whites.

Internal Impression Message: Crusading Sinewed Brown locks onto his Candidate, and it seems nothing will get in his way. Others are pushed past in a rush, for he has no breath to waste on them. He stops right in front of the tall lad, eyeing the brown hair, the bushy eyebrows, his scar. A growl mixed with a croon escapes that aristocratic muzzle as he finds the one he has been searching for.

External Impression Message: The air around you changes, from the uncomfortable heat of the Hatching Sands to the feel of cool stone. The cavern, the noises, it all fades away. You feel it, a heartbeat, triumph! Yes, you have found what you're looking for, or has he? The thoughts are confusing, intermingled. Vertigo threatens as you strain to differentiate between everything. Was that him? Was that me? << Enough of that, it does not matter. >> It's true, it doesn't matter, all that matters is that you have found each other. << M'duk? I am Draeth. Do you hear that? >> The sounds of the cavern rush back to you, the people, the dragons, you can hear everything again, and feel the heat as well. << It's the world, and it's waiting for /us/. >> There's a pause and then your stomach twists. << But first we must eat! >>

Temperament

Weyrling:
As a weyrling, Draeth seems pretty naïve at times, certain he can surmount any obstacle. That naivety will soon give way to insatiable curiosity; his need to learn may drive you – or your weyrlingmasters - up the walls. His enthusiasm causes him to be always pushing for more. He wants to know everything about breathing fire, about flying, about weyrs and the life that now awaits you both. How does wind affect flame? Where are the best stones to chew? His questions are endless and ever inventive.

When all of his anticipation finally pays off with flight, you’ll need to keep a firm hand on him lest he strain those young muscles. But Draeth can be very persuasive and when he's set his mind on a goal, it will take a lot of your willpower to change it.

He won't be one to listen to your whims and fancies. He's got his own agenda, and that's being the best. He wants you to be the best as well, however, and he'll be constantly interjecting thoughts on ways you might improve something. << We could make that better, with your brains and my skills... >>

But for all of his dedication to study and his anticipation for matters practical, what he really enjoys most is testing his skills against others. Never one to back down from a challenge, Draeth will eventually be up to throwing down the glove himself. From him, it is the sincerest form of admiration: << I've noted Marsath flies fast and well. I should challenge him to a race. >> Should he lose one of these duels, it serves only to raise the other dragon in his eyes. He’s never upset by losses – they’re just a sign that you and he need to practice more!

Adult:
Eventually all of his practicing and studying will pay off, and Draeth may nearly rule the air. He knows every trick in the book: which currents to use for what maneuver, how to use his tail subtly to help guide him, just exactly which way to set his wings. And Ista's tricky bowl winds have no doubt aided in this. Don't think just because Weyrlinghood is over that you're done practicing, though! He needs to keep his moves fresh or risk becoming rusty.

He'll mellow in his need for non-stop learning once he’s studied almost all there is to know about his favorite subjects, but then he may begin to focus more on areas like language. Yes, this dragon likes to turn an occasional phrase and has an odd penchant for rhymes, though he may often mix them up by using a color in his thoughts that he thinks might rhyme with said word, or even a scent. Frequently when he's thinking of a particularly good rhyme it will be injected with colors, shapes, sounds, and even tastes that may rhyme in theory, but not when spoken.

With other dragons he is at first quiet, wanting to listen more than to talk, but that changes once he's warmed up to them. He'll soon be going on about the best areas for flying, sharing a rhyme or two, or just passing idle gossip about the latest chase. He chooses his friends carefully, but once he's befriended them he's willing to go out on any limb to help if needed. He’s steadfast in his relationships if a dragon or person gains his trust. He'll make other friends easily, but they'll be more passing acquaintances than anything lasting.

Flight:
Before a flight, Draeth is likely to be anxious and ready to go. Not only is he chasing a pretty female, but he's testing out his skills. During the flight he may be very showy, wanting to impress this lucky dragon with everything he's got. He'll throw himself into it with a vengeance, moving with even more grace during the flight to show everyone just how well he navigates the air. Never one to favor one wing more than the other, he has an advantage in most flights for his ability to outmaneuver other chasers who might rely on their stronger side.

If he wins the flight, he'll be all smooth talk with his new lady and likely to gain attachments to her if their personalities mesh. If he doesn't win, well, you're going to be dealing with a very morose dragon for a few days. He'll sulk, and he'll sulk hard. He'll ignore all but his closest friends, and even you'll have a hard time breaking through this new grumpy barrier. But once you have, he'll toss his brooding to the side almost like it had never been there at all and take on his flight practice with renewed vigor. << Obviously I wasn't doing something right, but what could it have been? >>

Wing:
In a wing he could do well in a myriad of positions: as a member, because of his superb flying; as a Wingsecond, because of his ability to pass orders down with ease; or as a Wingleader, because of his knowledge of flying and how wind currents affect both flying and how things fall. However, he may lean more toward a Wingsecond position, as he tends to be a better follower than a leader at first. Of course, with some guidance, he could be a sturdy leader, too.

He will be always willing to offer constructive criticism to his wingmates, and even act as a tutor if needed. Draeth is forever inventive and loves to bounce ideas with you and other dragons to keep his wing active and ready for any circumstance. As for simple flight, he gets bored easily and would rather be up against another dragon or learning new tricks. He also passes this on to you, his rider, and may often nag you away to try out something he thinks the wing could use to practice. Afterwards, he’ll want your thoughts on it. << What do you think about me flying this way? Is it making us faster? Do you think this new exercise is helping my agility? >> He wants you to help him teach it, so everything must go through you first.

Credits:

Egg: C'len
Description: G'tive
Temper: G'tive
Puppeteer: Kylia